Category: The Citizen

Dar es Salaam. Imagine witnessing someone being killed or seriously injured.

Picture young people turning chaotic and destroying private and public property, assets they should have been protecting in incidents like those that unfolded in Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Mwanza and Arusha last week. Psychologists warn that about 30 percent of people who experience disasters develop trauma-related conditions, underscoring the need for patience and coordinated efforts in national healing.

They say recovery requires time, compassion and cooperation among the government, religious leaders, and citizens to address the mental health impact of the recent political unrest in Tanzania. Clinical psychologist Saldeen Kimangale said some citizens may face psychological challenges after witnessing, hearing, or seeing distressing events.

Such memories, he noted, can affect people’s wellbeing and may lead to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, or other psychiatric disorders. “As much as healing is a process, I call for the establishment of emergency counselling hotlines to listen to victims’ concerns,” he said.

“Some people may not have been physically present but were still affected by the sounds of gunfire, smells, or what they witnessed indoors.” He said that it is vital to promote desensitisation by encouraging open conversations, warning that suppressing or avoiding discussions only prolongs pain and bitterness.

Mr Kimangale also advised against sharing graphic or disturbing images and videos, as some individuals may be vulnerable to worsened trauma. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between 10 and 15 percent of Tanzanians suffer from mental health problems.

To keep these figures low, Mr Kimangale urged both the community and government leaders to focus on promoting healing rather than issuing ultimatums or bans. When asked whether the government has specific programmes to support citizens affected by the unrest, the Director of Curative Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr Hamad Nyembea, said psychological support is available at centres across different levels.

He explained that anyone experiencing such challenges can access these services and that mental health education is being provided in healthcare facilities and through online platforms. A family still searching A resident of Tabata Kimanga, Ms Mariam Hamis, 45, is among those who lost loved ones during the unrest.

She said her family has been searching for her missing relative, who left home on election day to visit a sick friend in Kitunda but never returned. Ms Hamis said the family has visited several police stations and hospitals with no success.

“We are deeply worried about what might have happened to him. Our mother has refused to eat and spends most of her time crying,” she said.

When asked whether they had taken their mother to hospital for treatment, Ms Hamis said they are consulting an expert who advised the family to prioritise rest as they continue the search. They were also advised to limit social media and phone use in the evenings to avoid triggering distress and to promote better sleep.

“We were told that if symptoms of mental distress worsen–such as persistent pain, anger, thoughts of self-harm or harming others, or sleeplessness lasting more than three days–we should visit the nearest health centre or call emergency numbers 110, 111, 115, 116, or 119,” she said. Ms Hamis added that although the information was helpful, the cost of professional help remains a major challenge, with each counselling session costing about Sh50,000, a fee many low-income families cannot afford.

Hope in healing Commenting on the issue, a mental health expert, Dr Raymond Mgeni, said that even in difficult moments, life must go on–even when the heart resists and keeps dwelling on the past. “Let’s strengthen one another and strive to understand those going through tough times by trying to feel their pain,” he said.

“In the midst of suffering, it’s often hard to believe that light still exists–but that’s a natural part of life.” He added that life is a gift and that challenging times teach valuable lessons.

“People should use these lessons to prepare for the future, as none of us knows what it holds,” he said. .

We’ll kick off today’s edition of this column by re-stating our perennial dismay towards Bongo scribblers’ lack of punctuation sense. And in this case, we’re lamenting in regard to the print media as a whole.

Even a mildly critical look at our newspapers will shock you, given the way some writers pen their articles with little concern–or knowledge– of what it means by a “full sentence”. You’ll always come across pieces, including op-eds penned by “veterans,” who’ve been granted the privilege that classifies them as columnists, lumping three or more sentences into one! To them, a comma often used to mark the end of a sentence, after which another is started! Our free advice here is: Media chiefs should organise more in-house training with a special focus on punctuation.

This should go hand-in-hand with tutorials on some basics of grammar like: what is a sentence? Having thus lectured (bah!), let’s proceed with dishing out what we picked up from the local English media over the week. Here we go Page 4 of Bongo’s senior-most broadsheet of Saturday, October 25,has a stand-alone photo whose caption reads, “Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Agriculture, Mr Gerald Mweli, explains about 250 sprinkler machines that will be distributed FOR ‘approximately’ 2,264 farmers across seven regions” Distributed ‘for’? Nope! We say, distributed TOFurther on, we’ll beg to differ on the idea of qualifying the figure 2,264 with the adjective “approximately” since the number is precise.

It looks exact. Saying approximately 2, 260 would be okay.

Or, you may say: at least 2,260 farmers. Or: nearly 2,300 farmers.

From the same title of Monday, October 27, there’s a Page 1 story with the headline, ‘TZ records 10pc decline in mobile money fraud’, in which the scribbler writes in his intro: “Tanzania has recorded a SIGNIFICANT 10 per cent decline in mobile money fraud attempts between June and September this year” Hello! Once you’ve provided a figure defining the rate of decline–that is, 10 per cent–you don’t need to tell your readers that the figure is significant. Let them determine that for themselves based on the facts that you provide in your story.

You have no business ramming redundant qualifiers down the throats of your readers! We note that the lead story headline reads, ‘Safe, orderly vote ASSURED’ while that of the earpiece goes thus, ‘Observers ASSURED of free, peaceful polls’. Now irrespective of what the details are–including the similarity of the messages–we aver that having two headlines on the same page with each bearing the verb “assured” is ill advised.

It depicts of intellectual laziness! Here’s our alternative headline for the earpiece: ‘Expect peaceful, free elections, observers told’. That kills one “assured”, ridding the front page of the echoing.

Page 4 of the broadsheet has a story with this headline, ‘Stakeholders/ push 20pc national/ budget education’ (our slash separates the decks as per the page designer’s dictates or the template). No one, we’re certain, can tell what the headline writer is trying to say! For our part, we only manage to uncover what the jumbled up headline is all about after looking at the intro, which reads: “Education stakeholders have urged the government to allocate at least 20 per cent of the national budget to the education sector” There we are; so how about this alternative headline: ‘Call for upped/budget to/boost education’.

Note: Penning a headline to fit a multiple-decked template is sub-editors’ worst nightmare. May God’s mercies be upon sub-editors! On Page 6 of Bongo’s huge and colourful broadsheet, there’s a headline for an opinion that reads, ‘Low oxygen chocking Lake Victoria, before adding fishing nets pollution’.

We find the headline hard to decipher, but on reading the text, we conclude that it could have been rewritten this way: ‘Low oxygen chocks Lake Victoria/fishing nets pollution makes matters worse’. Ah, this treacherous language called English! Send your photos and linguistic gems to email [email protected] or WhatsApp on Tel No 0688315580 .

Dar es Salaam. Israel has confirmed that Hamas handed over the body of Tanzanian national Joshua Mollel as part of the US-brokered truce arrangements in Gaza.

Officials said the remains were conclusively identified following forensic examinations at the National Centre of Forensic Medicine, after which the Foreign Affairs ministry informed the family of the 21-year-old. Mollel, who had been undertaking an agricultural internship in southern Israel, was among those caught in the October 7, 2023, attacks, when Hamas-led fighters raided several communities near the Gaza border.

He was killed at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, and militants subsequently removed his body. Israel said that, with his return, six deceased hostages, five Israelis and one Thai citizen, are still held in Gaza.

Mollel was one of two Tanzanian students who went missing during the October 7 assault and were later officially declared dead. According to Israeli authorities, both Mollel and his compatriot, Clemence Mtenga, were kidnapped by Hamas at the onset of the attack.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister January Makamba wrote on his X account that the Israeli government had informed Tanzania that Mollel was killed shortly after being abducted. “The Tanzanian government is preparing to send Mollel’s father, another family member, and officials to Israel to meet the authorities and obtain further information regarding the circumstances surrounding the student’s death,” it was reported.

Mtenga was also confirmed dead, and his body was repatriated to Tanzania for burial. In a statement on Thursday, the Israeli prime minister’s office expressed condolences, saying Israel “shares in the profound grief of the Mollel family and all families of the fallen hostages.

” It added that Hamas was obliged under the ceasefire terms to transfer the bodies of all deceased captives and pledged to continue efforts “until every fallen hostage is brought home.” Israel’s Hostages and Missing Families Forum said the return of Mollel’s remains offered some comfort to relatives who had endured prolonged uncertainty.

“Amid their sorrow, his return provides some solace after an unbearable wait,” the group said. Hamas’s military wing claimed it had retrieved the body from Gaza City’s eastern Shejaiya neighbourhood before handing it to the Red Cross on Wednesday evening.

In recent days, Israeli forces have permitted limited access for Hamas representatives and Red Cross teams to search for bodies in the area, which remains under Israeli control. On Tuesday, Israeli and US dual citizen Staff Sergeant Itay Chen’s body was also recovered there.

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Dar es Salaam. Young Africans (Yanga) striker Clement Mzize has been nominated among 13 players shortlisted for the 2025 Goal of the Year Award by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The recognition follows his spectacular long-range strike in the CAF Champions League earlier this year. The 2025 CAF Awards ceremony will be held on November 19 in Morocco, where Africa’s finest players, coaches, and teams will gather to celebrate outstanding achievements in the game.

Mzize’s inclusion marks a major milestone for Tanzanian football, highlighting his growing impact at the continental level. The Yanga forward earned the nomination for his stunning equalizer against DR Congo’s TP Mazembe during a CAF Champions League encounter at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in January 2025. Mzize unleashed a thunderous 30-yard shot that flew past the goalkeeper, sparking wild celebrations as Yanga went on to secure a 31 victory.

The memorable strike not only turned the match around but also earned Mzize the CAF Player of the Week accolade for that round of fixtures. His goal has now been recognized as one of the continent’s most outstanding finishes of the year.

According to CAF, the shortlist was curated by its Technical Panel and features 13 goals scored in CAF competitions between January 6 and October 15, 2025. The selected goals represent the finest examples of skill, technique, and composure under pressure, reflecting Africa’s football artistry and competitive spirit. CAF unveiled the nominees through its official platforms, announcing that supporters will once again play a decisive role in determining the winner.

Unlike other categories, the Goal of the Year Award is decided entirely by fan votes, which will account for 100 percent of the final outcome. Voting officially opened on Thursday, November 6, and will close on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. Fans can cast their votes through a dedicated online hub at a or via CAF’s official social media channels.

The winner will be announced during the CAF Awards Gala in Morocco, where CAF will honor players, coaches, and teams whose performances defined the year under review. Besides Mzize, other nominees include Abdellah Ouazane (Morocco), Anas Roshdy (Egypt), Asharaf Tapsoba (Burkina Faso), Barbra Banda (Zambia), Calvin Fely (Madagascar), and Ghizlane Chebbak (Morocco).

Also on the list are Ibrahim Adel (Egypt), Jean-Claude Girumugisha, Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo (South Africa), Oussama Lamlioui (Morocco), Refiloe Jane (South Africa), and Soufiane Bayazid (Algeria). Mzize’s nomination underscores Tanzania’s growing presence in continental football and his rising reputation as one of the region’s most promising attacking talents.

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Dar es Salaam. Civil society and legal organisations in Tanzania have intensified calls for immediate, practical measures to restore peace and uphold human rights in the aftermath of the unrest that followed the October 29, 2025, General Election.

The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) and the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) underscored the urgent need for transparent and accountable actions to rebuild public trust and strengthen national cohesion. Although there was no immediate response from the government as of Thursday, November 6, 2025, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, during her inauguration on November 3, expressed deep concern over the recent unrest, describing the incidents as inconsistent with Tanzanians’ peace loving nature.

She said the violence, loss of lives and destruction of both public and private property, particularly in major towns and cities, had deeply saddened all who wish the best for the nation. President Hassan emphasised that the country’s security and defence forces were conducting thorough investigations to determine what had transpired and to restore normalcy as swiftly as possible.

The Head of State has also repeatedly outlined her broader vision for governance under the R4 Philosophy, stressing consultation and dialogue as key priorities. “With a government guided by the R4 Philosophy, we will continue consultations with political stakeholders, civil society institutions, and the private sector by forming committees and initiating reconciliation and mediation discussions, while creating an environment to start the process for a new constitution,” she said during her campaign.

However, THRDC and TLS have now urged families with missing relatives to report to authorities, human rights organisations, or TLS regional offices to aid tracing efforts. The groups also called on the police to immediately halt raids on homes and arrests targeting journalists, politicians, human rights defenders, and ordinary citizens.

They further demanded that all fabricated terrorism-related charges be dropped and that arrests linked to peaceful demonstrations cease without delay. The organisations stressed the importance of offering legal support to affected families.

Member bodies of THRDC and TLS have been encouraged to extend free legal aid to those facing unlawful detention, prosecution, or losses resulting from the unrest. “Freedom and justice are not privileges granted by the powerful–they are rights that every citizen is entitled to.

Protecting these rights is essential for national stability and lasting peace,” the statement read in part. In their joint statement, the organisations also noted that previous appeals for national dialogue to address citizens’ concerns ahead of the elections were largely ignored.

They argued that open communication between the government and the public could have prevented the recent turmoil and mitigated tensions. “The road to lasting peace requires action, not words alone.

We remain committed to defending the rights, lives, and dignity of every Tanzanian and to building a nation rooted in justice, solidarity, and mutual respect,” the THRDC and TLS statement concluded. The Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) echoed these recommendations, calling on the government to establish an independent judicial commission to investigate the full extent of the violence and clarify reports on police conduct, particularly regarding pillage and property destruction on polling day.

LHRC said impartial investigations are essential to restore confidence in the justice system, ensure accountability, and promote national reconciliation. “Accountability is vital for justice to prevail and for the nation to heal,” LHRC stated, welcoming the President’s commitment to dialogue and reconciliation.

The centre further urged the government to ensure legal consequences for individuals found responsible for unlawful acts, stressing that transparency and fairness must guide all proceedings. Other civil society organisations, including the Tanzania Media Women’s Association (Tamwa), joined in calling for constructive action.

Tamwa extended condolences to families affected by the unrest and emphasised the importance of rebuilding peace, solidarity, and public trust. Tamwa’s executive director, Dr Rose Reuben, said every effort to restore calm and stability should prioritise human dignity and the protection of fundamental rights.

As Tanzania gradually returns to normalcy, these organisations underscored that sustainable peace and democracy can only be achieved through practical, solution-oriented measures. They urged swift government action to strengthen national unity, uphold human rights, and adhere to the principles enshrined in the Constitution and international conventions ratified by the country.

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Dar es Salaam. After the curfew was lifted, many Tanzanians discovered that life had not returned to normal.

The city streets were open, shops were busy and public transport had resumed, but the people were not the same. From crowded daladalas to bustling markets, the lively conversations that once filled the air had faded.

People spoke in whispers or avoided talking altogether, fearing they could be misunderstood. “People used to talk freely here, but everyone became scared of saying something that could be taken the wrong way.

We lived in silence, not because we wanted to, but because we had to,” said Rehema Mussa, a shopkeeper in Kinondoni. Even in the daladalas, the mood remained tense.

Before the tragedy, passengers often joked, debated politics, or shared stories with strangers. After the curfew, commuters sat quietly, eyes fixed ahead, and conductors who were once talkative, collected fares without a word.

“You could feel the tension, even humour felt dangerous.” said one commuter Residents in areas such as Sinza, Kimara, and Tabata said they still felt uneasy walking home after sunset, even when the streets appeared calm.

According to a cosmetics seller in Sinza, Neema John, said fear had become part of daily life. “Your heart raced when someone walked behind you.

Even if it was just a neighbour, you still felt afraid. We lost our sense of trust,” she said.

Silence was also noticeable in workplaces. Workers who once joked and chatted now kept to themselves.

An employee from Workspace, Haji Haji said that before the tragedy, colleagues freely talked about politics, football, and music. “Now, even when someone tried to start a conversation, people answered with only one or two words.

It was like the whole city had lost its laughter,” he said. Psychologists, Dr Grace Gidion, said that the quiet is a natural response to collective trauma.

She explained that fear and curfew were common after communities experienced painful events together. “What we saw was not just fear, but a form of emotional withdrawal,” she said.

“People stop expressing themselves as a way to cope. But over time, silence becomes harmful.

It isolates individuals and delays healing.” Dr Gidion further added that rebuilding communication is essential for recovery.

“When fear dominates, people lose trust not only in others but also in themselves,” she said. “Restoring trust begins with small steps, talking to neighbours, checking on friends, or sharing daily experiences.

” Although the curfew ended, many people struggled to return to the open, easy conversations that once defined Tanzanian society. As the nation slowly recovered, the quiet that filled buses, homes, and streets reflected both pain and resilience.

Beneath that silence, there is hope that laughter would return to the community. .

Dodoma. The Clerk of the National Assembly has officially summoned all newly elected Members of Parliament to attend the first sitting of the 13th Parliament in Dodoma, marking the formal start of a new government following Tanzania’s recently concluded general election.

A statement issued yesterday by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr Baraka Leonard, registration and administrative procedures for the elected lawmakers will take place at the Parliament offices in Dodoma from November 8 to 10, ahead of the official opening session set for November 11, 2025. “The first meeting of the 13th Parliament will be held on November 11, 2025, as declared in the Presidential Proclamation,” said Mr Leonard in a public notice released through the Government Gazette, Special Supplement No. 11 of November 4, 2025. “The activities to be conducted during that meeting will include reading the Presidential Proclamation, election of the Speaker, oath-taking by all Members of Parliament, confirmation of the Prime Minister, election of the Deputy Speaker, and the formal opening of the new Parliament by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania,” reads part of the notice.

The notice comes just days after Tanzanians went to the polls to elect their leaders, setting the stage for the swearing-in of both the legislature and the new executive government. Analysts say the convening of Parliament signifies the transition into the next phase of governance, as the ruling party and opposition prepare to assume their respective roles.

The Clerk also confirmed that guidelines for the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker have been officially released. “The election procedures to fill the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker have been announced in Government Notices No.

14824A and 14824B, also published in the Special Supplement of November 4, 2025,” said Mr Leonard. He further directed all elected MPs to report in formal attire for registration and official photographs.

They are also required to present key identification and personal documents, including their certificate of election or appointment, national identity card, bank details, marriage certificate (for those married), children’s birth certificates, verified academic and professional certificates, and an updated curriculum vitae. “It is emphasised that all elected Members of Parliament must report properly dressed for registration and the photo session, accompanied by the necessary documents,” the notice reads.

The convening of the 13th Parliament is expected to draw national attention as the newly elected MPs take the oath of office, elect their parliamentary leaders, and confirm the Prime Minister to be appointed by the President. The official opening by the Head of State will symbolise the beginning of the new administration’s legislative agenda.

The 13th Parliament will therefore not only mark a constitutional formality but also a political transition, setting the tone for Tanzania’s next five years of governance and policy direction. .

Global sporting events have grown beyond entertainment; they’re economic powerhouses that encapsulate national growth, tourism, and international recognition. For Tanzania, now a sporting country with passionate fans and rising stars, the economic contribution of events such as the FIFA World Cup, Olympic Games, or World Athletics Championships is unprecedented.

From tourism revenue to sponsorship through brands, such events rock industries. The sporting industry also intersects with gambling, as fans utilize gambling websites to stay engaged in competitions.

This growing trend circles back to regional economies in terms of sponsorship and taxation. Global bookmaker offers free bets, promotions, andMelbet first deposit bonus to lure fans who want to combine passion with prediction, creating a parallel economy with global sport linkages.

In the case of Tanzania, therefore, sport, gambling, and tourism together form part of a wide ecosystem behind short-term and long-term gain. Tourism And International Exposure One of the most obvious economic benefits of global sports tournaments is tourism.

Even when Tanzania does not host a tournament, a large event has international visitors coming to regional centers since tourists tend to visit nearby destinations. Tanzanian safari tours, beaches in Zanzibar, and cultural festivals receive more bookings during global tournaments.

The connection between tourism and sports betting also applies. Visitors to international events are usually using mobile platforms to track odds and scores, supplementing the domestic operators.

This trend is observed in East Africa, where users prefer such easy-to-use tools from app bet to track their wagers in real time while watching live games on the go. Traveling and gaming create twin streams of economic activity — spending leisure time and participation in gaming markets.

Tourism also increases Tanzania’s image in the global sphere. Exposure through press coverage of African fans and cultural stories builds the country’s brand, attracting investments and strengthening its role as a destination for sport tourism.

Sponsorships And Corporate Partnerships Sponsorship from corporations is also a crucial element through which Tanzania benefits from foreign sports. Foreign companies realize the benefit of tapping into passionate fan bases from Africa.

Sponsorship deals give more exposure to local businesses, marketing, and event promotion employment, and deepen economic ties with multinationals. Tanzanian banks, breweries, and telecommunication companies commonly sponsor events surrounding global competitions.

Besides the revenue they get in terms of advertisement, the sponsorship also raises customer engagement by connecting brands to sporting energy. The spillover benefits then spill over into the hospitality, transport, and media sectors.

For the athletes, sponsorship creates opportunities for professional and financial advancement, opening doors that spill over into communities and inspire youngsters to engage in sports. Job Creation And Infrastructure Improvement While Tanzania still is not home to the largest international games, domestic games associated with international events provide jobs and stimulate infrastructure improvement.

Stadium renovations to expanded transport systems, the push to improve facilities is benefiting sport as well as overall economic activity. Jobs are not only found in construction.

Hotels, restaurants, security teams, and media all have increased demand during international sports events. Small vendors even profit by selling wares and services to the crowds gathering in viewing areas.

Such economic spin-offs give international sports events a multiplier effect many times larger than the sporting event itself. Tanzania’s Position In The Global Sports Economy Tanzania’s international sports positioning also extends, not merely through its participants but as a fan-driven market.

Participation in sports, at athletics, football, and boxing, has made the country internationally renowned, and follower culture adds to its economic linkage to international events. This table illustrates how strongly connected the effects are, to guarantee that global sporting events optimize several industries at a time.

Why Global Events Matter For Tanzania’s Future For Tanzania, global sporting events contribute positively in the short term, but the benefits go beyond that. It’s for long-term strategic development.

Tanzania positions itself with global sporting economic activities. Investing in sporting tourist activities, the development of sporting infrastructures, and the legalization of betting markets will make Tanzania thrive economically in the global sporting tournaments.

Among the main reasons such events are important to Tanzania’s growth are: Growing Tourism Revenue: Global events attract tourists who linger longer to explore Tanzanian destinations. Creating Jobs Across Sectors: From hospitality to retail, jobs are created in sectors across the board.

Creating International Partnerships: Sponsorships and partnerships give Tanzanian brands international market access. Facilitating Upgrades in Sports Infrastructure: Stadium, training facility, and transport development leave a legacy.

Tanzania’s passionate fan support promises consistent demand, and its natural sites offer an attractive extension for foreigners visiting nearby international tournaments. Sponsorship agreements secure foreign sponsors, and improved facilities and media coverage create legacies that last far beyond the events themselves.

From Stadiums To Safari: A Winning Combination For Tanzania, global sporting competitions are not merely about rivalry — they are growth accelerators. They boost tourism, attract sponsorships, generate jobs, and expand the digital economy of betting.

By combining the thrill of stadia with the thrill of safari explorations, Tanzania presents itself as a destination where sport, culture, and economy intersect. As the nation progresses, more integration of sports into its development agenda will ensure that every whistle, every race, and every match brings not only excitement but opportunity.

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Dar es Salaam. The Land Transport Regulatory Authority (Latra) has issued permits to 150 new for commuter buses, commonly known as daladala, in a move aimed to ease passenger flow and improve public transport services in Dar es Salaam, following election-related violence that disrupted the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) operations.

The October 29 unrest saw vandalism of infrastructure such as the BRT stations, damaging of its buses, prompting the government to suspend their services until further notice. The Morogoro Road corridor was mostly affected by the vandalism while some parts of the Kilwa Road corridor was also affected.

Following the destruction, the government announced to temporarily suspend the BRT services after infrastructure on phases one and two of the system was damaged. Announcing the suspension, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Mr Albert Chalamila, directed Latra to issue temporary permits to ensure transport services continue along the two affected routes.

“Therefore, for all those who were expecting to use the BRT, we are suspending the service to assess the extent of the damage caused. As you can see, even the gate systems have been destroyed.

For this reason, we are directing Latra to issue temporary permits to ensure transport services continue along the two affected routes,” he said. Latra’s Head of Communications and Public Relation, Mr Salum Pazzy, said the 150 buses will add to the existing 148 buses on the Morogoro Road route, bringing the total number to 298. “A technical assessment conducted by the authority showed that 150 additional buses were necessary to supplement the existing fleet.

If demand increases, we will issue more permits to allow additional daladalas,” he said. Mr Pazzy explained that each minibus will have a seating capacity of 26 passengers.

According to him, Latra has always ensured that public transport continues uninterrupted, even when BRT routes are introduced or adjusted. “Even when Mofat’s (operator of Phase Two) buses were deployed to operate along Morogoro Road, we did not withdraw the 148 daladala that were already assigned to their respective routes.

They have continued to support passenger transport and complement BRT services,” he noted. The authority says the decision is part of ongoing efforts to ensure reliable and efficient public transport, especially during peak travel periods and route adjustments.

For BRT Phase Two, Latra’s Director General, Mr Habibu Suluo, said the authority was not considering issuing additional permits for daladala along the corridor, as the extent of infrastructure vandalism there was not as severe as in Phase One. “The Mbagala route has not been heavily affected, so we do not expect to issue new daladala permits since the only station that was slightly damaged is the one at Mbagala,” he said.

Mofat’s Managing Director, Mr Mohamed Abdallah Kassim, told The Citizen that he is hopeful the damaged infrastructure will be repaired soon so that their operations can resume and the company can continue servicing its bus loan. “So far, three of our buses have been completely burnt to ashes,” he said.

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What I learnt from not having access to the Internet for six days is that we survived. It was not easy, but we did.

The experience was a stark reminder that we have become slaves to technology. Back in the paper days, life did not grind to a halt when systems failed.

We found ways to adapt, to communicate, to move forward. There were alternatives, and we used them instinctively.

During the blackout, I was thankful that voice calls, SMS, and M-Pesa were still working. Word of mouth once again became the most powerful form of communication, something advertisers have always understood.

Messages travelled by phone, by conversation, by trust. I happened to be in Kagera, where life seemed deceptively normal.

I could drive across districts, attend events both sombre and festive, and connect with people in person. The air was calm, conversations lively, and the days full of motion.

Yet beneath that surface calm, the ripple effects of Dar es Salaam’s slowdown were beginning to show. Supplies were tightening, and whispers of uncertainty began to spread across towns.

People started making their own adjustments. Some passengers changed their flight tickets back to Dar es Salaam, preferring to delay their return until things stabilised.

Those with international connections chose to reroute through Entebbe. The vast majority of Dar es Salaam landers who hail from there chose to stay put.

After all, they were at home, surrounded by family and familiarity. They made peace with the fact that things were what they were and chose to wait it out.

The anatomy of interconnection The incident underscored just how deeply interconnected our country is. Dar es Salaam may be the nerve centre, but the signals it sends or fails to send determine how every other region functions.

The flow of goods, data, and confidence is not only economic but psychological. When communication is disrupted, so is commerce.

When information is blocked, uncertainty fills the void. In a digital economy, the Internet is not a luxury.

It is the oxygen that keeps businesses breathing. From mobile money transfers to e-commerce deliveries, academic research to hospital record systems, connectivity has become the invisible infrastructure that keeps society coherent.

Its absence reveals just how fragile that coherence can be. A cash economy reborn When the Internet went dark, the entire banking system fell silent.

ATMs were not functioning, mobile banking apps froze, and online transactions vanished. In a matter of hours, we were thrust back into a cash economy.

Those who had cash in hand became unexpectedly powerful, while those who did not were stranded. Businesses that once thrived on digital payments struggled to sell.

Shops, market stalls, and even hospitals began demanding cash only. As supplies dwindled, from medicines to basic foodstuffs, prices of essential goods skyrocketed.

Was it a shutdown or a system failure? We may never know for sure. What is certain is that the experience revealed just how deeply digital systems now shape daily life.

It was an uncomfortable reminder that convenience can quickly turn into dependence, and that our economic resilience must include the ability to function when digital access is restricted or unavailable. A test of resilience The six-day blackout was, in many ways, a national stress test.

It forced us to rediscover old muscles: to speak, to walk, to write, to listen. It showed that while technology connects us, it also exposes our fragility.

Those who had backup systems, whether business owners with offline ledgers or families who kept a little cash for emergencies, coped better. But for many, it was a paralysis of progress.

And yet, within that paralysis, there was a quiet awakening. Communities began to reconnect in person.

People shared information face to face. Strangers helped each other navigate challenges, share resources, and stay informed.

It was inconvenient, yes, but also humanising. Regional ripples and policy reflections Tanzania’s six-day blackout also exposed the regional vulnerabilities that come with shared systems and interlinked economies.

East Africa’s trade corridors, from the Central Corridor through Dar es Salaam to the Northern Corridor through Mombasa, depend on digital coordination. Transporters, customs agents, clearing firms, and logistics providers all rely on Internet-based platforms to process shipments and payments.

When one link falters, the chain slows across borders. The experience also highlighted how deeply digital tools, including mobile financial services and online platforms, have become woven into everyday life and commerce.

For years, these innovations have expanded inclusion, simplified payments, and accelerated regional trade. Yet the recent disruption reminded us that even the most transformative technologies require strong contingency planning to maintain continuity when systems are under strain.

Across East Africa, border communities and regional businesses would likely have felt the ripple effects of such a slowdown, given how much cross-border trade and cooperation now depend on real-time communication and digital connectivity. It was a quiet but powerful illustration of how regional systems can be both our strength and our vulnerability.

This is not just a Tanzanian story. It is an East African wake-up call.

The region’s ambitions, from the African Continental Free Trade Area to digital tax systems, rest on the assumption of uninterrupted connectivity. Policymakers must therefore move beyond convenience to resilience: Redundancy must be built into regional networks Data sovereignty should not mean isolation but continuity Backup channels for essential services, from banking to health and logistics, must be institutionalised, not improvised Digital transformation is irreversible, but it must be made shockproof.

A single point of failure should not bring a nation, or a region, to a standstill. In the end Perhaps these six days were not only an interruption, but an invitation: To rethink our dependence To value connection beyond screens And to remember that resilience, like signal strength, comes not from one tower, but from the network we build together .